Alkaid

Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

proper n. A star in the constellation of Ursa Major, the east-most star of the Plough

Etymologies

From Arabic القائد البنات النعش (al-qā’id al-banāt an-na‘sh) ‘the leader of the girls at the bier’, from قائد ‘leader’ + بنات plural of بنت ‘girl’ + نعش ‘bier’. With reference to the mourners at the funeral of Calypso (who became the Great Bear). (Wiktionary)

Examples

According to Wikipedia, The Ursa Major Moving Group was discovered in 1869 by Richard A. Proctor, who noticed that, except for Dubhe and Alkaid, the stars of the Big Dipper asterism all have proper motions heading towards a common point in Sagittarius.

Secretary of State's Office here for several Months, and being sent ineffectually to the Universities, and after various Enquiries had been made on Behalf of the Emperor to the Governor of Gibraltar, the Bashaw of El Grarb, and the Alkaid of Tangier, to ascertain if any Answer had been returned to His Imperial Majesty.